Massacre in Rafah: seven Palestinians killed, 56 wounded; the greatest invasion of Gaza since Oslo
The Israeli occupation forces yesterday invaded several areas in Rafah in the largest incursion into Gaza since the Israeli withdrawal from it following the implementation of Oslo accord.
A massacre was carried out in which 7 Palestinians were killed including 2 children and 56 wounded, most of them are in grave conditions. Five houses were destroyed and water and electricity networks were damaged.
A spokesman for the Palestinian general security said in a statement that the occupation army "backed by more than 100 tanks and military vehicles and covered by helicopters incurred in several areas in Rafah where several houses for civilians were destroyed."
The spokesman stressed that the Israeli forces incurred on three axes in al- Barazil, Yabna, Tel al-Sultan, Salah Eddine Gate areas which all adjoin the border strip with Egypt, noting that the Israeli forces incurred into areas "ranging between 300- 1700 meters in the depth of the territories of the Palestinian territories."
An Israeli military spokesman said that the Israeli army launched this operation to destroy tunnels dug under the border between Egypt and Gaza and used to smuggle weapons, while the Israeli radio talked about an attempt about to be carried out by smugglers to transport Katyusha rockets and anti-plane missiles. An Israeli army officer on the site said that the operation is carried out by a contingent of elite troops, engineering units, and tanks and helicopters, but he admitted that no tunnels have so far been found at a time when the army faced "fierce" resistance by the Palestinians who used scores of mortars and missile shelling.
A Palestinian medical source announced that two Palestinian children (12 and 8 years old) as well as an adolescence were killed by the Israeli army bullets and other four Palestinians were killed during the incursion operation which lasted until Friday morning.
Two Palestinians were killed when an Israeli helicopter fired a missile at Yabna area in Gaza and a third person was killed by the Israeli soldiers and 56 Palestinians were injured including 18 in critical health condition following an artillery, missile and live bullets bombardment, according to Palestinian security sources. Five houses were at least destroyed and water and electricity networks were heavily damaged, according to eye-witnesses and security sources.
A statement by the army said that one soldier was slightly wounded in the operation which is considered the largest to be carried out in Gaza since the beginning of the Intifada.